Interstate 81 Exit 150: A Case Study in Access Management ... · and the Appalachian Trail come...

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Interstate 81 Exit 150:A Case Study in Access Management – Part 1

November 7, 2007Richard Caywood, P.E.Salem District Administrator

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I-81 Exit 150

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I-81 Exit 150 (Troutville): A Critical Link

• I-81, Routes 11, 220, 460 and the Appalachian Trail come together in this area.

• One of the most important connections between central VA, western VA, and the Shenandoah Valley

• More than 85,000 vehicles travel through this area each day.

• All through one signal!

• Continued growth is expected.

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I-81 Exit 15010/17/07

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Exit 150 Truck Stop

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Exit 150: Previous Concept

• The original improvement concept included relocating Route 11 away from I-81.

• By 2007, the cost for Exit 150 solutions had grown to more than half a billion dollars.

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Exit 150: Fresh Approach

• A fresh approach is needed.

• What will access management look like?

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Exit 150: Context Sensitive Solutions

• VDOT met with the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors to identify problems at the exit.

• In June 2007, a citizen information meeting was held to gather feedback on which safety improvements are most important to the public.

• Based on that feedback, VDOT is looking at a family of solutions.

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Exit 150: Applying Access Management Principles

Recent Safety Improvements

• Optimized signal timing to allow for better traffic flow.

• Reconfigured existing lanes to allow for dual left turning movements from Route 220 southbound to Route 11 northbound. This minimizes exit ramp back up.

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Exit 150: Short-Term Safety Improvements

Improvements to be completed in the

next six months

• Create dual left turn lanes from Route 11 northbound onto Route 220.

• Remove a 10-foot section of median barrier on Route 220.

• Relocate signal and remove guardrail from the island.

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Exit 150: Future Plans

Access Management

• VDOT will work with a consultant to analyze the entire interchange area in order to develop the most effective operational and access management improvements within the $20.5 million budget allocated for Exit 150 in the FY08-13 SYIP.

• With land use commitments from local government, access management will be the key to improving Exit 150.

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To be continued …

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